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Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2573, 17 May 1871, Page 2

The Mining Conference. The Confercnceanet to-day at 10.30 a.m., and continued sitting until 4.30, The subjects under consideration were various amendments and alterations of Act, 1806.

The Government Loan. —An impression has got abroad that the loan of LI 200,000, negotiated by Mr Vogel, is guaranteed, and is the one for which Messrs Fcatherstou and Bell made .all arrangements before they left England. But the Independent, on the authority of Mr Gisborne, states that it is unguaranteed, and is distinctly under the Immigration aud Public Works Act, pas-cd last session.

Good Finds, if True. —The Bruce Herald has it on good authority that the few minors nt work on the Port Molyneux beach arc realising good returns —one party of three having netted no less than 200 ozs. of pure gold in three weeks. Trade with San Francisco. —We are glad to see that samples of the products of Otago have been sent by tho Nevada to San Francisco. In addition to three bales of flax forwarded by Messrs Bright Brothers, Messrs Wilson and Birch sent two hhds. of beer, which we hope will prove the means ot establishing a demand for au arfc cle for. the manufacture of which the Province is already famous. We trust the firm will reap the benefit cf their enterprise.

Princess Theatre. —“ Peep o’ Day’ and “A Model Husband” were repeated last night, to a house not much better attended than on the preceding evening. The great sensation scene in the third act was vociferously applauded, ami Miss Carry George, Mr Musgravc, and Mr Ilesford had to reappear at the call of the audience, _ r ibc challenge dance was equally well received. The programme r> mains unaltered for tonight. Drill Shed—Water of Leith. — The > aunrama of the Pacific Mail Route was exhibited at this place last evening. The attendance, probably owing to want of sufficient notice, was fair only ; but the spectators were evidently highly pleased In consequence of the Drill Shod being required this evening by the volunteers, tho second exhibition of the Panorama will not be held until Thursday, when there will no doubt be a large attendance. Meat Preserving.—No loss than 8000 sheep are now weekly being potted or boiled down by the New Zealand Meat Preserving Co , at their three establishments at Longbush and Kakanui in this province, and at the Washdyke, near Timaru, each establishment going through from 400 Jto 500 every working day; and but for the shortness in the supply of tinsmiths to pot the meat, a much larger quantity still would be manipulated upon. Presuming that the establishment at Green Island consumes an equal number of sheep, the yearly consumption of the three establishments would represent 416,000 sheep, or one-sixth of our total stock. In the course of a month or two the mutton will become t»o lean for preserving purposes, and great cattle will then have their turn, and as the consumption will be very large, no doubt rising prices may then be expected by farmers and other stockholders. Supposing that sheep are only opera ted on during six months in the year, the number required would nearly double the increase upon the flocks in the province, which last year represented 131,421 sheep, so that this diminution will no doubt speedily tell upon the numbers held in the province, and, reasoning upon the ordinary rules which regulate consumption and demand, consequently raise their value. —Bruce Herald,

A New Mode of Obtaining Employment.—A party bailing from Dunedin (so says the Herald), called at the police camp, Milton, and tendered against himself the charge of vagrancy. The police hesitated to act upon the information thus given, whereupon the would-be criminal intimated his intention of adopting the necessary course of procedure to enable the sergeant to give him free board and lodgings upon some other charge. This hint had the desired effect—he was apprehended. On Monday he was brought before Mr J. L. Gillies, J.P., charged with vagrancy, upon the original information, when he explained the cause of his leaving Dunedin—rather a melancholy one ; his travels in search of work ; his want of success; his three days’ fast, and consequent inability to proceed further, Ac. Mr Gillies, having learned his position, remanded the case for a day—not to enable the police to make further enquiry, but to enable him (Mr Gillies) to find a situation for the man. Before the case was again called, a comfortable situation had been found, and the poor fellow expressed his sincere gratitude that he had found a friend on the bench, where he had least expected it.

Libel. We gave last week the article from the Enni'-n Post, upon which Mr John Martin, of Wellington threatened to institute proceedings for libel. We now learn that the Avrit has been issued, damages being laid at LIOOO. A Wellington correspondent of the Oamaru Tunes thus refers to a second threatened action against the Post: —“The Post has been reflecting upon the pecuniary circumstances of its contemporary the Advertiser, the proprietors of which arc hard-working young men who do not protend to be wealthy, and Avho are struggling to establish a journal which they only took possession of a few months ago. The plant of the paper is owned by a gentleman Avho has leaded it to the present proprietors, and the Post has repeatedly, during the late elections and since, sneered at the paper, charged it with selling itself, and Arith being afraid to take an independent action. These attacks have been allowed by the Advertiser to pass unheeded till two days ago, Avhon the Post said ‘ To people not so well acquainted Avith the matter as we are, the Advertiser might possibly appear to be an independent journal vindicating a private individual from unjust aspersion ; but when

they learn that the Advertiser is partly the property of Mr Martin himself, that he controls it body and soul hy the power of the purse which he wields over it, that those who guide its utterances date no more offend him than they can afford to mark out an independent line of action for themselves, living as they do under the constant threat of being ‘ shut up’ every Saturday night when the rent is due, those people will probably alter their opinion.” One will probably agree with the Atlverliser that this was a little too much to hoar quietly, particularly as it was untrue, and therefore will not be surprised to hear that au action for libel damages £soi)0 — is talked about, if an apology, which has he n demanded, is not forthcoming.

Ropata’s Last Prisoners. The prisoners last taken are to be transported to Waihcki, au island in Hauraki Gulf. Ihe island is inhabited by loyal natives, who have volunteer.d to take charge of the prisoners. The latter have been supplied with a couple of old marquees, some seeds, and some spades, and they are expected to furnish themselves W'ibh food from the surrounding ocean, which abounds with wholesome fish and a species of seaweed much used as a comestible by Maoris in similar circumstances. Prominent among the prisoners is Paora-Toki, a chief of Hawkes’s Bay, w’ho lias been in rebellion for tho last six years. In Fraser’s fight at Petano, seven miles from Napier, on October 12, 1866, Paora-Toki ntrrowly escaped capture. On that occasion only five of his hand got away, aud his wife was shot through both thighs as she fought hy her husband’s side ; but terribly wounded as she was, the poor creature rejoined him at WaikarcMoana, after crawling hy by-paths over a hundred miles of mountains. At the time it was considered au extraordinary feat, and I am glad to record that the old girl is still alive, and fadhfnl to the chequered fortunes connived at murder. He ventured to hint at restoration of lands, but was sternly tolo by |thc Defence Minister that those lands were forfeited years ago, and he might deem himself fortunate in not being sent for trial. He is growing an old man now. verging on on” seventy year-'., and seems consumptive. It is most probable we have nearly hcarti tiic last of Paori-Toki, until Natives assemble from all quarters to tunyi over his demise a few weeks, or months hence, as tho case may he. he-has bought a tattered Union Jack to demo istrato li:s thriceborn loyalty, and keeps the emblem constantly flying before his whare.

A Meeting of the Lodge Celtic 477 S.C. will be held in tho Masonic Hall to morrow (Thursday) evening at 7.30. A meeting of the Grocer’s Early Closing Association will be held to-morrow (Thursday) evening, at 8 o’clock in the r„om below the A then mum.